The central government has decided to make significant changes to five important social welfare and pension schemes and their names. According to these new changes, the old names of these schemes have now been changed to the newly approved names.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to continue the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) for a period of five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31. A total outlay of ₹53,428 crore has been allocated for the program.

Under this programme, proposals for changing the schemes and scheme names, eligibility criteria for pension for persons with disabilities, scope of beneficiaries and amount of financial assistance, and continuation of pension schemes for elderly and widows and family benefit schemes in their existing form have also been approved.

Names of 5 major schemes changed

The central government has decided to make significant changes to five important social welfare and pension schemes and their applications. As part of these changes, the old names of these schemes have been replaced with new approved names.

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) has been renamed as 'Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana'.

The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) will now be known as the 'Pradhan Mantri Old Age Pension Scheme'.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) has been renamed as 'Pradhan Mantri Vidhwa Pension Yojana'.

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) has been renamed as 'Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana'.

The National Family Benefit Scheme will now be known as 'Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana'.

Changes in the Disabled Pension Scheme

Under the Disabled Pension Scheme, beneficiaries aged 0 to 79 will now receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹375, while beneficiaries aged 80 and older will receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹625. In addition to the increase in financial assistance, the following changes have been made to the scheme.

The disability eligibility ratio under the scheme has been reduced from the current 80 percent to 40 percent. The minimum age eligibility requirement for disability pension will apply from birth. Old-age and widows' pension schemes, as well as family benefit schemes, will continue in their current form.

PC: SAAMTV